Orlando Working On Protection Of Parks

February 25, 1986|By Goldie Blumenstyk of The Sentinel Staff

Orlando has no plans to sell any parks, but the city council agreed Monday that it won't put any on the market while it decides the type of legal protection it wants to place on parks to prevent future sales.

At the same time, the city council approved spending $1.2 million to begin new landscaping and renovations at Loch Haven Park and to set aside up to $250,000 as a matching fund to encourage individuals and organizations to participate in the Green-Up Orlando community landscaping program.

In other business, the city council approved minor changes in the city sign law in response to a federal lawsuit, allocated money for travel expenses for a committee studying divestiture and sided with Lake Rowena-area neighbors who don't want a restaurant/hotel project by the Champ Williams family approved until a neighborhood plan is completed.

Here are the details:

-- Parks. The moratorium idea came from Mayor Bill Frederick, who called it ''a compromise to allay concern'' about delays in preparing a comprehensive parks protection program.

Last week, council member Mary Johnson called the mayor's failure to develop the policy ''a stall.''

Johnson tried to win support Monday for an immediate vote on legally dedicating all city parks -- to make them harder to sell in the future -- but found no support.

Instead, council members were swayed by Frederick's explanation that developing the policy takes time. The issue is complex because it involves complicated legal issues and because some parks -- such as Turkey Lake where the Central Florida Zoological Park may be relocated -- need special treatment.

''I'm sorry if that offends some people on the council,'' he said.

The moratorium was approved 6 to 1, with only Jeff Clark dissenting. ''I think this is all totally unnecessary,'' he said, adding that he didn't see any need to ''pass a bunch of constraining, restraining, unnecessary ordinances.''

The Central Florida Young Republicans and others are planning a petition drive to change the city charter and require voter approval whenever any city park is sold. Frederick hopes his park protection plan would dissuade them.

The Loch Haven plans, to coincide with the realignment of Princeton Avenue, call for creation of more open green spaces in the park, improved lighting and construction of landscaped berms along access roads. The park is home to several of the city's museums.

-- Signs. Responding to a federal court ruling, the city changed its sign law so that it makes no reference to the content of signs, just their size and location.

Linda Wells, a lawyer for sign owners and customers in two federal court cases, said her clients wouldn't give up the fight. They are arguing that the city's laws are overly restrictive.

-- Divestiture. The council approved spending up to $1,500 for experts' travel expenses as requested by the city's divestiture study committee. But council members said the money should be used for expenses, not speakers' fees. The committee is studying what risks would exist if Orlando sold its $22 million in pension fund investments in companies that do business in South Africa.

''Except for the sensitivity of this issue, I wouldn't support it for a minute,'' said Frederick. He later acknowledged that he did promise the committee an expense budget for its work.

-- Restaurant. The city's Board of Zoning Adjustment voted earlier this month to delay decisions on variance requests by the Champ Williams family. The city council concurred after hearing from several people who live near the proposed Mills Avenue project.

The special neighborhood plan for that area ''needs to be put in place first'' before the city decides whether to grant variances for the Williams' project said council member Pat Schwartz. That plan should be ready in March. The zoning board is scheduled to vote on the Williams plan in April.

The Williams family, who operate the restaurant at Orlando International Airport, want to open a restaurant and hotel conference center at the site of the Orlando Motor Lodge and their now-closed White Turkey restaurant.